Self-locking seal.



' No. 739,038. PATENTBD SEPT. 1 5, 1903.

E. TYDEN. v

SELF LOOKING SEAL. APPLIQATIOH rmm nnd.-4. 1902. v

I0 IODEL.

UNITED STATES".

iatented September 15, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

SELF-LOCKING SEAL.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N 0. 739,038, dated September 15, 1903.

Application filed December 4, 1902. Serial No. 133,888- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL TYDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hastings, in the county of Barry and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Self-Locking Seals, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

This invention is designed as an improvement upon former devices for the purpose of sealing cars, bags, packages, and the like in such fashion that the same cannot be opened without destroying or so mutilating the seal that such tampering therewith will be obvious. It consists in the features of construction set out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved self-lockin g seal with its attached straps for connecting it to the bag or package to be protected. Fig. 2 is atransverse section at the line 2 2 on Fig. 1, showing the parts in position before looking. Fig. I

3 is a view of the bulb, the wall being broken away to show the interior construction and position of the parts before locking. Fig. 4 is a detail side view of the ring 9, on an enlarged scale, showing the severed ends. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the severed ring 9 on an enlarged scale. Fig. 6 isa section similar to Fig. 2, showing the parts in position after locking.

My improved self-locking seal comprises a hollow shell or bulb 1, which in theconstruction illustrated is permanently fastened to one end of a securing-strap 2. My invention in its broader phase, however, is not limited to a construction in which the bulb is perrna nently attached to the strap, other means of adapting it to be secured by the seal to the object to be protected being easily devised and substituted. When it is made in the form described-that is, with the bulb or shell secured to one end of the strap-the other end of the strap is adapted to be inserted through the shell for engagement with the locking devices, and preferably the secured end is oonstructed so as to'form a sheath which defines a path for the inserted end and, as will hereinafter appear, is arranged to afford support for the locking devices, consisting of the rings which engage the inserted ends of the strap. The secured end of the strap is v the rings 9 9.

r at this cut-away part. struck from one wall of the sheath and sprung y provided with a wing 2, which is folded to form the sheath above mentioned, and the sheath is adapted for permanent junction with the bulb by having formed on its opposite sides notches or shoulders 3 3, which engage within the shell, the latter being formed of two pieces 4 and 5, which are clenched together at a transverse seam 6, this construction adapting the. two parts ofthe shell to be assembled on the strap by entry from opposite ends, so that the shoulders'described may become lodged or stopped against the inner margins of the slots 7 8 in the two members 4 and 5, respectively. When the shell is thus formed up about thesheath, the latter protrudes from the shell at both ends for ashort distance, thereby guarding the interior of the shell from inspection or intrusion for the purpose of picking.

9 9 are rings which are-not joined up endless, but are formed with their severed ends directly opposing each otherand preferably abutting, so as not to leave any appreciable or significant opening, said abutting ends having their side edges beveled, so as to form a notch in the outer circumference of the ring for the purpose of facilitating the entry of the securing-straps in the locking action, as hereinafter explained. The sheath-which forms the path for the inserted end of the strap has in its opposite walls apertures 10 10 of suitable size to be engaged by the ends of The fold of the sheath is cut away at 11 opposite the apertures 10 10, and the rings encompass the edges of the sheath outward, as seen in Fig. 2, presses against the inner side of the ringsand holds them against the edge 13 of the notch 14, which leads up from the recess 11. The strap has a shoulder 15, which encounters the rings ad- 'jacent to the edge 13,"and it has also a longitudinal slot 16 near the other edge opposite A spring-finger 12,

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and extend through the slot 16 and prevent the withdrawal of the strap.

I claim- 1. A self-locking seal comprising a hollow body or shell apertured to admit a securingstrap, such strap adapted to enter the shellaperture and being itself apertured at the portion which thus enters the shell; a severed ring lodged in the shell, having its severed ends directly opposing each other abutting end to end without lapping; means holding the ring normally with the point of severance in the path of entry of the strap, and means by which the strap releases the ring when the severed ends are at the strap-aperture.

2. A self-locking seal, comprising a hollow bodyor shell, apertured to admit a securingstrap, such strap adapted to enter the shellaperture and having an aperture at the portion which thus enters the shell; a severed ring lodged in the shell, having its severed ends abutting end to end without lapping beveled at the outer circumference of the ring to form a notch in such circumference; means holding the ring normally with such notch in the path of entry of the strap, and means by which the strap releases the ring when the severed ends are at the strap-aperture.

3. A self-locking seal comprising a hollow body or shell apertured to admit a securingstrap, such strap adapted to enter the shellaperture and being itself apertured at the portion which thus enters the shell; a plurality 0f severed rings lodged in the shell, each having the severed ends directly opposing each other, and separated less than the thickness of the strap; means holding the rings normally with their points of severance all in the path of entry of the strap, and means by which the strap releases the rings when the severed ends are at the strapaperture.

4. A self-locking seal comprising a hollow body or shell apertured to admit a securingstrap, such strap adapted to enter the shellaperture and having, itself, an aperture at the portion which thus enters the shell; a severed ring lodged in the shell, having its severed ends directly opposing each other, and means holding the ring normally with the point of severance in the path of entry of the strap; means by which the strap releases the ring when the severed ends are at the strap-aperture, and means by which the released ring is moved to carry its point of severance away from the aperture.

5. A self-locking seal comprising a hollow body or shell apertured to admit a securingstrap, such strap adapted to enter the shellaperture and being itself apertured at the portion which thus enters the shell; a sheath extending through the shell and defining the path of the strap through the same; a severed ring having its severed ends directly opposed to each other, the sheath having apertures in its opposite walls in which the severed ends of the ring are engaged, whereby the ring is located with its point of severance normally in the path of entry of the strap; a springfinger bearing upon the ring to hold it yields ingly in such position, and means by which the strap releases the ring from the springfinger after the strap has entered between the severed ends of the ring.

6. A self-locking seal comprising a hollow body or shell apertured to admit a securingstrap; a sheath extending through the apertures to define a path for the strap, such strap adapted to be thrust through the sheath; a severed ring having its severed ends directly opposing each other, the sheath having apertures in its opposite walls for lodging the 0pposed ends of the ring; a spring-finger struck from one wall of the sheath and pressing upon the ring to hold it with its severed ends in the path of entry of the strap, the strap havinga longitudinal slot in position to pass between the two apertures of the sheath as the strap is thrust thereinto, and having a shoulder at one edge to engage the ring ata point at the other side from its opposed ends to disengage the ring from the spring-finger, said shoulder being in position to thus encounter the ring when the opposed ends of the ringare in the slot.

7. A self-locking seal comprisingashell apertured to admita securing-strap; asheath extending through the shell to define a path for the strap, such strap adapted to be thrust through the sheath and having an aperture at the part within the shaft, asevered ringlodged in the shell and having its ends directly 0pposed to each other, the sheath having apertures through which said ends are engaged; a spring-finger which presses upon the ring to hold it to the sheath, the edge of the sheath against which it is thus held being cut back below the point of bearing of the ring against it, to relieve the ring from the pressure of the spring-finger when it is moved on the edge to said cut-back portion, the strap having a shoulder which encounters the ring when the ring ends are at the strap-aperture and pushes it to said cut-back portion of the edge.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at Chicago, Illinois, November 26, 1902.

IMIL TYDEN.

Witnesses:

CHAS. S. BURTON, FRED G. FISCHER.

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